Southwestern Energy Explained

Southwestern Energy Company
Founded: (as Arkansas Western Gas Company)
Fate:Merged into Expand Energy
Location:Spring, Texas, U.S.
Key People:William J. Way,
(CEO & President)
Carl F. Giesler, Jr., CFO
Industry:Petroleum industry
Products:Natural gas
Production:4.573 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day (2023)
Revenue: (2023)
Net Income: $1.557 billion (2023)
Assets: $11.991 billion (2023)
Equity: $5.888 billion (2023)
Num Employees:1,165 (2023)
Footnotes:[1]

Southwestern Energy Company was a natural gas exploration and production company organized in Delaware and headquartered in Spring, Texas.[1] In October 2024, the company merged into Expand Energy.

The company's primary exploration and production activities were in the Appalachian Basin in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as the Haynesville Shale. The company also controlled 2,518,519 net undeveloped acres in New Brunswick, Canada, subject to an indefinite moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.[1]

As of December 31, 2023, the company had 19.660 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent of estimated proved reserves, of which 77% was natural gas, 20% was natural gas liquids, and 3% was petroleum.[1]

History

The company traced its roots to Arkansas Western Gas Company, which was established in July 1929 as a subsidiary of Southern Union Gas Company of Dallas.

In 1985, the company acquired Mustang Fuel for $200 million in stock.[2]

In 2013, the company acquired assets in the Marcellus Shale from Chesapeake Energy for $93 million.[3]

In December 2014, the company acquired 413,000 net acres in the Upper Devonian, Marcellus and Utica shales in West Virginia and Southwest Pennsylvania from Chesapeake Energy for $5.375 billion.[4] [5]

In December 2018, the company sold its assets in the Fayetteville Shale for net proceeds of $1.65 billion.[6]

In November 2021, the company acquired GEP Haynesville for $1.85 billion.[7]

In October 2024, the company merged into Expand Energy.[8] [9]

Controversies

Public opposition to hydraulic fracturing in New Brunswick, Canada

See also: Shale gas in Canada. In 2003, shale gas was discovered in New Brunswick, Canada. The company received exclusive licenses from the Department of Energy and Resource Development to conduct an exploration program. However, after protests by local citizens, in 2015, the provincial government in New Brunswick imposed a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, and in May 2016, the government announced that the moratorium would continue indefinitely.[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Southwestern Energy Company 2023 Form 10-K Annual Report . . February 22, 2024.
  2. News: Southwestern Link Set With Mustang . . May 30, 1985 . subscription.
  3. Southwestern Energy Announces Acquisition of Marcellus Shale Properties . . April 29, 2013.
  4. Southwestern Energy Completes Acquisition Of Southwest Marcellus And Utica Assets . . December 22, 2014.
  5. News: Southwestern Energy buys more interest in Marcellus and Utica after multibillion-dollar deal closes . Nora . Olabi . . December 22, 2014 . subscription.
  6. Southwestern Energy Completes Transformational Sale of Fayetteville Shale Business . . December 4, 2018.
  7. Southwestern Energy Announces Agreement to Acquire GEP Haynesville . . November 4, 2021.
  8. News: Expand Energy begins trading after Chesapeake closes acquisition of Southwestern Energy . Olivia . Pulsinelli . . October 2, 2024 . subscription.
  9. Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy Complete Merger and Provide Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call Information, Company Rebranded as Expand Energy . . October 1, 2024.
  10. News: Fracking firm says vandals won't stop it . . July 26, 2011.
  11. News: Seismic testing trucks blocked by protesters . . August 10, 2011.
  12. News: IN DEPTH: N.B. shale gas industry . . November 26, 2011.
  13. News: Sussex mayor warns shale gas ban is not the answer . . December 2, 2011.
  14. News: Anti-shale gas protest closes Highway 11 in N.B. for hours . . November 29, 2013.
  15. News: RCMP, protesters withdraw after shale gas clash in Rexton . . October 17, 2013.